Blemish Removal

Dr Hayward offers effective non-surgical treatment to remove a range of skin blemishes:
Milia, age/sun spots, skin tags, seborrheic keratosis, broken vessels, moles and warts resulting in natural beautiful skin.

What are milia?

Milia are small, hard, white/yellow keratin-filled cysts formed under the skin. They mostly appear around the nose, cheeks, eyes and eyelids (however they can be anywhere on the body) and occur when dead skin is trapped under the skin surface.

What are sun spots/lentigo?

Commonly referred to as ‘sun spots’ or
‘age spots’, lentigos are flat brown spots of pigmentation which most frequently appear on cheeks or hands. They are more common in those aged over 40 and are caused by accumulative sun exposure.

What is a skin tag?

Skin tags are very common and harmless. They are small brown or flesh – coloured growths hanging off the skin varying in size from 3mm – 5cm wide. They are usually located on the armpits or neck.

Seborrheic Keratosis

Seborrheic Keratosis is a common, non cancerous growth on the skin (also called senile warts/brown warts). Usually found on the chest, back, shoulders, face and stomach. We also treat warts, verrucas, moles (that are deemed medically safe for removal) and other small lumps and bumps.

How does the treatment work?

All lesions will be assessed, diagnosed and have the best method of removal decided. Dr Hayward will either use a Cryopen (for precision freezing called cryotherapy) or a Thermocoagulation technique using a very small needle delivering pulses of heat energy. Treatment usually takes less than 30 minutes. Prices start from £50 and will depend on the type and number of lesions.

Are there any side effects?

Overall blemish removal is a safe and well tolerated treatment. It produces excellent cosmetic results and side effects are mild and temporary. However, as with all medical procedures, there are some potential risks which you need to be aware of listed below.

Potential side effects related to using a needle for the procedure include:

• Temporary discomfort – brief – can be reduced with Emla cream
• Redness at the site (maximum 20 – 40 minutes after the procedure – can last up to 48 hours)
• Bruising or scab formation (usually small and fades within 1 week)
• Swelling (mild, can last up to 48 hours after treatment)
• Infection (very rare)

Potential side effects related to Thermocoagulation (diathermy) include:

• Incomplete removal – larger veins and extensive areas are likely to require further treatments. Allow a minimum time of 4 weeks between further treatment sessions
• Recurrence – some veins may resolve initially and then gradually reoccur and require further treatment. Allow up to 12 weeks to see the full effect of treatment
• Hyperpigmentation – rare
• Blistering – rare
• Dimple or pin size pit in the skin (most heal and resolve over a few weeks)
• Scarring (rare) – best to under treat and return for a top up – rather than over treat in 1 session